Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-04-15
PROTEST AGAINST COERCION.
A GREAT DEMONSTRATION
IN LONDON.
ONE HUNDRED AND FIPTY-THOU-
SAND PEOPLE ATTEND THE MEET
ING IN HYDE PARK-SPEECHE
OF SULLIVAN AND DAVITT.

LONDON, April 1.-THE day APP
pointed for the great demonstration
in London against the Irish coer-
cion bill, now before the House OF
Commons, opened brilliantly, the
weather being balmy and the sun
shining brightly. Vast crowds of
people early began marching to-
wards Hyde Park, where the meet
ings were held, from every district
of London, with bands, banners
and carriages filled with leaders in
the days exercises. The utmost
enthusiasm prevailed in tho great
throngs. Many of the banners ex-
hibited large portraits of Mr.. Glad.
stone, Michael Davitt and Father
Keller, and appropriate inscriptions.
All those taking part In the process.
sion from the east TO the west end
of London wore green rOsettes to
initiate the Irish emblem, the sham.
rock. Mrs. Gladstone watched tae
procession from a window in Picca.
dilly, and was given az ovation by
the men IN line ~
Fourteen Performs for the use of
orators had ~oeen erected in Hyde
Park; end occupied the whole front.
age facing the fashionable Park
lane. The gathering was the larg
est ever held in London. The peO-
pie were enthusiastic but orderly.
Estimates of the attendance at the
meeting vary, but it is certain that
159, 900 persons, including lockers
on, were present. The procession
took an hour and half to file into
the park. The first contingent was
composed of members of Robert
Emmett Lodge; then followed
large number of Irish tenn erance
lodges, Radical WOrkmen's Club
and Social-Democratic Societies.
Numerous bands Of music were in
line. While passing the Carlton
and other conservative clubs the
bands played "Dead March in Saul"
aud "The Marseillaise.r Green BAH
ners and Irish national emblems
were conspicuous IN the ranks of
the paraders. Among the notices
displayed on the banners of the
radicals were these: "Jnstice to
Ireland "Friendship-.not BayO-
nets,' "NO Coercion
The effect of the careful arrange
ments that had been made to avoid
confusion at the park was seen in
the admirable order in which the pa
raiders grouped themselves around
the fourteen platforms. The great
est throng gathered at the platform
from which Lord Mayor Sullivan,
of Dublin, and Messrs. Conybeare
and William Redmond, members of
Parliament, spoke.
Lord Mayor Sullivan, ia the course
of a most effective speech, asked
"Is 1t the wish of the wOrkmen OF
London that the honest, hardwork-
ing tenantry OF Ireland shall be for
ever crushed down. A tremendous
responsive "No" resounded through
ont the park. The mention of the
Queen as about 20 celebrate her
jubilee by signing away the liber-
ties of the people of Ireland brought
forth a torrent Of Kisses, and the
mention of Mr.. Chamberlaine's
name aroused tempest Of grOans
and misses, with cries of Traitor"
Mr.. Sullivan. in conclusion, assured
his hearers that the demonstration
would carry hope and Joy into the
hearts of the Irish. 1t would cheer
many poor struggling man to know
that England was no enemy of Ire
land. ain return he said, "don't
let them believe those who say the
Irish are mortal, implacable enc
mics of England. Tat is a false
hood worthy of the bOttOmless pit.
Cheers. Let there be an end of op-
preston and injustice, and there
will be an end of hatrel.' Pro.
longed cheering.
The socialists stole a march on
the police and erected platforms,
from which several speakers deliv.
cred orations. They aiterward held
a noisy meetingin Trafalgar Square.
1t was on one OF the socialist plat
forms that Michael Davitt appear.
ed. lie referred to the demonstra.
ton as a proof Of the approaching
solidarity of the people Of Great
Britain and Ireland. In proper
ton as the masses began to under
stand each other, so the classes be.
came alarmed. The privileged
classes well know the inevitable
tendency OF the Irish movement,
and sought to crush the Irish lead
ers, hoping to prevent the English
people following the example set
them by the Irish. But they would
hold the fort in Ireland. Cheers.
On the day on which the crimes act
should become law, they wOnld
either have to give up the struggle
that had been waged for centuries
and lie down as slaves or render
the system impossible of duration.
They would follow the manler
course. The classes had in the
past built a bridge of hate across
the Irish sea; the people would
pull 1t down and erect bridge of
love between the tOilers of Ireland
and the honest workers of Eng.
land" Cheers.
John Burns, a socialist leader,
followed Mr.. Davitt. He declared
that the state of Ireland justified
civil war, and that the English peO-
pie we're ready to assist the Irish
peasants in a revolt.
At 4:30 o'clock a bugle sounded,
and at this prearranged signal a
resolution condemning the crimes
bill was put simultaneously AZ all
of the platforms. The resolution
was carried amid a prolonged roar
of cheers.
The Daily Necs, commenting on
the Hyde Park demonstration, says
that it shows that the bulk Of the
working population of London have
returned to hearty cooperation with
the liberal party, determined to do
Justice TO Ireland.
The Standard says the meeting
was imposing enough in point of
numbers to Justify the undisguised
pride OF its professional promoters.
The Chronicle and Times char
acterze the meeting as a dull and
spiritless affair. The Times says